On September 18th, the dowry prepared by the Chu family for Chu Xiuxiu was carried to the Deng family one by one. There were more than a dozen large wooden boxes and a complete set of brand-new furniture. Twenty or thirty people were hired just to carry the dowry.
It was very close from the Chu family to the Deng family, but this spectacular dowry procession still caused quite a stir on Changqing Street.
When the neighbors saw this scene, they were a little surprised: "I knew that the Chu family was doing well in business and living a good life, but I didn't expect that the family's wealth was so rich. Look at the dowry given to the escort. It is really one of the best on the street." That’s it.”
Some families with sons and daughters couldn't help but feel sad about the Deng family, "The Deng family is really lucky. They will marry their son to such a well-off daughter-in-law, and they will be very blessed in the future."
"You can't say that. There are many people on the street who have thought of negotiating with the Chu family, but as you can see, they have been blocked by the Chu family. According to Matchmaker Tan, the Deng family didn't even think about it at the beginning. Yes, but I can’t stand the sincerity of the younger son of the Deng family. He said that he made a lot of efforts to impress the Chu family and approved the marriage.”
The aunt who just spoke sourly had made peace with Chu Xiuxiu for her son. Now after hearing these words, she felt even more angry: "With a family like the Chu family, no one else would have to work hard. If I had known that Chu If the family follows this routine, the marriage may not necessarily fall on the Deng family."
The aunt next to me didn't agree with it. They were all neighbors. It would be bad for this to reach the ears of the Deng family, so she tried to persuade her: "If you ask me, this is fate, and the life of the Deng family is not good." It's quite prosperous, not necessarily the Tuchu family, but it's just suitable for two children."
The Chu family's wedding ceremony was not only envied by outsiders, but even the Deng family was a little surprised. After hearing her wife read the dowry list in private, Deng's mother felt a little worried: "His father, what did you say? Comparing the Chu family’s dowry, did the betrothal gift we gave you at the beginning be too little?”
Father Deng took the gift list, pondered for a while and said, "Didn't Boss Chu tell us just now that we only have a daughter in the family. She had a hard life when she was a child, but now that her conditions are better, if the family is not careful, the dowry will be added to the amount." Some, tell us not to mind or think too much about it."
"That's what I said, but they directly escorted me to a shop... Should we add more?"
Father Deng shook his head and said, "You old woman are so confused. The betrothal gifts have been given out, so how can there be anything left for the younger ones? Besides, you gave the third child a gift, but what about the first two?"
Since the Chu family has done this, it means that they don't care about it. They just hope that their daughter will live well after marriage and ask the third child to treat her well in the future. Didn't that girl lose her mother-in-law early? You should pay more attention to her. . "
Deng's mother thought the same thing when she thought about it. The betrothal gifts for her three sons were all the same. Giving more to the third son alone was unfair to the first two, so she had to do this.
In the kitchen in the backyard of the Deng family, the two daughters-in-law were also talking about this matter. The second daughter-in-law, Ms. Chen, was a thoughtful person. Ever since she saw the dowry ceremony, she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, thinking that it was the Chu family. You haven't even entered the door yet, and you want to overwhelm your two sisters-in-law?
But it was not easy to say this, so I thought for a moment and said, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean by the Chu family? This dowry is more than the betrothal gift given by the family."
The eldest daughter-in-law, Ms. He, has always been very transparent. She knew that Ms. Chen was feeling uncomfortable. She smiled and persuaded: "What else can you mean? It's just that the elders in the family feel sorry for their daughter. As parents, Not everyone is like this. We all want to do our best to give our children the best. My siblings should stop thinking too much."
After her sister-in-law He said this, Chen naturally couldn't say anything else, but she still felt a little uncomfortable. The conditions in He's family were also good, and the dowry must have been quite large at the time. She probably couldn't understand her own feelings.
On September 19th, Chu Ping's family and Shen Songjie arrived at the county town early. Everyone was chatting lively in the east courtyard. Chu Li, who was supposed to study painting with Liang Huairen, ran back early.
Seeing that the man was out of breath, the young couple hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "What's going on? Why are you back at this hour?"
Chu Li gasped and said: "Brother, sister-in-law, master... master..."
Chu Yi stretched out his hand to help Chu Li calm down: "Don't be anxious, take your time.
Say, what happened to Mr. Liang? "
Chu Li calmed down, drank another cup of herbal tea handed over by Shen Luzhu, and continued: "Master received a letter from the capital, saying that there was something urgent at home, and asked the master to rush back to the capital immediately."
"Ali, do you know what's going on? Is there anything we can do to help?"
Chu Li shook his head and said, "Master didn't elaborate. He only said that he would leave as soon as possible. He also said that it would take half a year to come back at least half a year. He asked me to come back and discuss with my brother and sister-in-law if I could go to the capital with him. , and said he would come home later."
The young couple looked at each other and were caught off guard by the sudden news. However, in the end, Chu Li had to listen to his own thoughts on this matter.
So Shen Luzhu asked softly: "What does Ah Li think? Your brother and I will listen to you."
As Chu Li grew up, he had never been separated from Chu Yi for too long except for the time when the young couple was implicated in the counterfeit banknote case and were imprisoned. However, he studied painting with his master and only recently started to gradually start. If he had wasted the previous year After half a year, I am afraid that all the efforts this time will be in vain.
"I……"
Seeing that Chu Li didn't directly say that he didn't want to go with Liang Huairen, Chu Yi knew that he wanted to go, but he was a little confused at the moment. He patted his younger brother on the shoulder and asked, "What are you worried about?"
Chu Li was silent. He had nothing to worry about. He just didn't want to be separated from his brother and sister-in-law. But he really liked learning painting from Liang Huairen and wanted to go out and see what the capital was like.
"The capital is too far away. I don't know when I can come back."
Chu Yi smiled and said, "Our family has always been here, and we won't move away quietly behind your back. We will be here whenever you come back."
Half an hour later, Liang Huairen paid a visit as Chu Li said, and the conversation was naturally about bringing Chu Li to Beijing.
"My mother is seriously ill and I need to rush home as soon as possible, but Chu Li's current homework cannot be delayed. If you can trust me, I want to take him to Beijing. People who study painting cannot always live in one corner. This will restrict It will do him no harm at all to expand his horizons and see more of these great rivers and mountains.”
The young couple agreed with Liang Huairen's point of view, but they still had to listen to Chu Li's own thoughts on this matter: "Mr. Liang is right. As long as Ah Li agrees, we, the couple, have no objection to his coming to Beijing."
Liang Huairen heard this and looked at Chu Li: "Disciple, do you want to come to Beijing and have a look?"
Chu Li hesitated for a moment but nodded, and then said to the young couple: "Brother and sister-in-law, I want to go out and have a look."
The young couple was not surprised and nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Liang, we know that you are eager to return home, but we just have an unkind invitation. I wonder if we can ask Ah Li to attend his cousin's wedding banquet tomorrow before leaving?"
Liang Huairen knew that the Chu family had been busy with Chu Xiuxiu's marriage recently, so he nodded and said, "It just so happens that I still have some things to prepare, and I planned to start again the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you, Mr. Liang. I'll excuse you, Li."
The Chu family's joyful mood was mixed with a little panic and sorrow due to this sudden change. Shen Luzhu was busy packing Chu Li's luggage, food and clothing all afternoon, and wished he could move the entire home to Chu Li. .
"It's almost October. Although the capital is in the south, it will probably be very cold along the way. My sister-in-law just went to the street shop to buy you some new winter clothes and a sheepskin jacket. You bring it, put it on when you feel cold, outside is not as good as home, take care of yourself."
Chu Li stayed aside obediently and helped Shen Luzhu clean up: "I understand, sister-in-law, don't worry."
"Your brother went to the market and bought a lot of food and came back. My sister-in-law will make some dried meat for you later. Fortunately, the weather is not hot now, so I won't worry about it spoiling if I bring more."
Shen Luzhu said and took out another purse and handed it to Chu Li: "This purse contains some copper coins and broken silver. You can put it in a place where you can easily take it. I also sewed a hidden pocket in my coat. I have a few banknotes. I can take them apart and use them when necessary. There is no need to save anything. There are also..."
The night before her wedding, Chu Xiuxiu slept with her cousin-in-law.
We talked quietly for half the night. Fortunately, the Chu and Deng families were close to each other, so there was no need to get up too early to dress up on the day of the wedding.
After putting on a red wedding dress sewn by herself, Shen Luzhu invited the famous Quanfu woman on the street to comb Chu Xiuxiu's hair and dress her up. When everything was done, the noise of the wedding reception team could be heard outside the door.
Qian glanced at Shi Chen and said with a smile: "The groom arrived really quickly. Maybe he couldn't wait to marry our Xiuxiu into the family. If he arrived so early, he might be in trouble for the boys at home later. That’s it.”
The women in the room were chatting and laughing very lively, but Shen Luzhu saw Chu Xiuxiu holding her hands nervously, patting her twice to reassure her, "Don't be nervous."
Deng Nanxun was indeed blocked by the Chu family's sons for a while before he was let into the yard.
After bidding farewell to the elders of the Chu family, Chu Yi carried Chu Xiuxiu step by step, sending her out of the Chu family gate and into the sedan chair of the Deng family to pick up the bride.
"Cousin..."
"My cousins are here for everything, Xiuxiu, don't be afraid."
"Um!"
Seeing Chu Yi exiting the sedan, Matchmaker Tan happily stepped forward to straighten the sedan curtain, then retreated to one side of the sedan and shouted, "Get up!"
The Chu family stood in front of the courtyard gate and watched Chu Xiuxiu's wedding sedan leave. Until no more shadows could be seen and no sounds of joy could be heard, they returned to the lively inner courtyard with a sense of loss to thank the relatives, friends and neighbors who came to see Xiuxiu marry. .
